Unexpected Twists/Moments in Games

[Moonface]

I forget how exactly but earlier today I was talking to @ShiraNoMai about random curiosities I have about how the Elite 4 function in the world of Pokémon, and somewhere amongst all that facing Red as the champion came up and I questioned if that moment might be one of the most unexpected twists/moments in a game? In most cases facing someone you know in a game is hinted at within the same game it happens or someone betrays you to end up becoming an opponent, so I feel like discovering you face the canonical winner of Red/Blue in Gold/Silver as an opponent was a very unique and surprising approach?


For a moment I personally experienced, I remember being really surprised that Resistance 2 ends by having the main protagonist (who you play as throughout this game and Resistance 1) shot dead by their one surviving squad member. It's not a surprise why it happens, because this squad member outright tells you he'll shoot you the second you start to turn from refusing to return to base and take an inhibitor, but for me this was the first time I had played a game that had the player character die at the end, and the end of a sequel at that. It made me super curious to know what Resistance 3 was going to do in the wake of that back at the time, and although I'd still have that same curiosity if I experienced the game blind today I'd be going into the finale wondering if the main character will turn and die rather than naively thinking everything will just work out.

[ShiraNoMai]

Yeah that was such a strong moment. I wouldn't say it was exactly super surprising as it was just an epic moment: ascending the mountains of Mt. Silver to reach the peak, and waiting at the peak is... literal silence. A slow walk upwards into the reveal. And all he has to say? ".... ..... ...... ......." Then, the music kicks in. God I get chills just thinking of it, what a fucking moment.

I think a really good unexpected moment for me was being able to play as Peach in Paper Mario. I hadn't played Super Mario Bros. 2 at this point, so it was the first time I was able to play as Peach, and it was neat, even if it was for short-lived moments.

[Moonface]

I think a really good unexpected moment for me was being able to play as Peach in Paper Mario. I hadn't played Super Mario Bros. 2 at this point, so it was the first time I was able to play as Peach, and it was neat, even if it was for short-lived moments.

I liked this sort of thing in Jak 2 when you get to play as Daxter out of nowhere with nothing really hinting it would be a feature beforehand, and the same for playing as Ellie in The Last of Us. For the latter I wasn't surprised at the moment you take control of Ellie, rather I just didn't think Joel would get incapacitated to the point we get almost a whole chapter as Ellie.